Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
As you are likely aware, partisan disagreement over the scope and funding level of the forthcoming budget reconciliation bill, a "social" infrastructure package that is central to President Biden's two-part COVID-19 recovery strategy, is impeding further Congressional action on this and the physical infrastructure bill, H.R. 3684, The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In order gain enough votes to ensure passage of both packages, the White House and Congressional Democrats are currently engaged in negotiations to reduce the cost of the budget reconciliation bill by well over $1 trillion from it's initial $3.5 trillion price tag.
As cuts are being made, we have been informed that billions of dollars in funding for Indian Country is potentially on the chopping block. This is completely unacceptable, given the decades of neglected federal infrastructure obligations in Indian Country and the devastating impact of COVID-19 on our communities.
Negotiations are currently occurring mainly between the White House and Senate Democrats. USET SPF urges its members to contact your Senators and the White House immediately and tell them to uphold trust and treaty obligations to Indian Country by preserving all Tribal provisions in the reconciliation bill. To determine your Senators and receive contact information, please click here.
For more information, please contact Liz Malerba, USET SPF Director of Policy and Legislative Affairs, at lmalerba@usetinc.org.
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